The mother and daughter sat quietly face to face, one looking at the other without speaking a word.

  Lin Jinyong's lips were pursed tightly, with a kind of reckless determination that would not rest until the goal was achieved. Tao's lips were also pursed tightly, she loved her children and wanted to give them the best, doing her utmost to plan for their future.

  But many times, she really didn't know what to do for the best. She wanted her children not to be bullied by others, but they were always being bullied and didn't dare tell her. She wanted her children to make a name for themselves, but every time they showed off their talents, they would be envied and punished by others. Madam Tao's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

  Lin Jinyong could see the hesitation in Tao's eyes, and she said softly: "Big brother has been following his uncle to learn how to do business since he was young, helping his uncle with business, managing the shop. I heard that some small things, his uncle didn't even bother with, were all left to him to handle, so he could become what he is today. It's clear that practice makes perfect. I also know that he's a boy and I'm a girl, we're different, but being able or unable is ultimately two different things, who can say for sure what will happen in the future? Being prepared is always good. Just like when I went to visit relatives the other day, if I often go out to visit relatives, won't I be able to grasp the measure of things?" She was really racking her brains, bringing up all sorts of excuses and pretending to be innocent.

  When Lin Jinyong mentioned that matter, Tao's family couldn't help but let out a light sigh. She was naturally delighted that her daughter could show off her talents, and she also understood the etiquette of being a host. However, at the time, she thought her daughter had made an unintentional mistake and couldn't be blamed for it - if anyone was to blame, it was Lin Yuzhen herself for not making proper arrangements. So, she wanted to protect her daughter. Nevertheless, if her daughter could become more mature in her interactions with others, that would only bring benefits and no drawbacks.

  Mr. Tao was also worried that Lin Jianrong was a child's temperament, and he would lose interest after playing with it for a while, so he said in a deep voice: "I promised you. But I must explain first, since you said to use your own money to do it, then use your own money, if not enough, I will lend you, and slowly deduct from your monthly allowance. Of course, I will give you the deed, just as a birthday gift for your thirteenth birthday."

  Lin Jinyong was always tense, looking at Tao's expression, and when she heard the words, she almost jumped up, but fortunately controlled her joy and solemnly nodded to Tao: "I will not disappoint my mother." Even if Tao didn't give it to her, keeping it for Lin Shen in the future would be good too. The fat water wouldn't flow into someone else's field, let alone benefit the Lu family.

  Tao didn't say a word and just stroked Lin Jinyong's hair.

  The mother and daughter both ate their dinner somewhat absent-mindedly.

  Mrs. Tao was wondering whether she should give in, and whether it was right or wrong to do so. The way of bringing up daughters and sons is different, but managing dowries is also a skill. She didn't know how Mrs. Wu had brought up her nieces, and thought of writing a letter to ask about it.

  Lin Jinyong thought that she wanted to do many things, but couldn't always ask the Tao family's servants to do them for her. This situation of being restricted at every turn and unable to move forward had to be changed, so she needed to find someone to act as her personal assistant. This person had to be honest, capable, and trustworthy, but where could she find such a person?

  So both mother and daughter only ate half a bowl of rice and put down their bowls.

  On a winter day, the sky was dark early on, but before one watch, Mrs. Tao had taken her medicine and gone to bed early. Lin Jinrong's body had been nourished these days, and his emotions were agitated, how could he sleep so early? He ordered someone to close the door tightly, lit the charcoal brazier brightly, and let Li Zhi, Gui Yuan, and Miao Er sit together in a circle. She brewed tea for the three of them to drink, Li Zhi roasted chestnuts, Gui Yuan roasted sweet potatoes, and Miao Er told interesting stories about the countryside. Just as they were having fun, suddenly they heard dogs barking wildly outside, someone was knocking on the door urgently, and voices were shouting "Save us!"

  Lin Jinrong was startled and hastily called Li Zhi: "Take the raincoat and hat, light the lantern and go take a look at what's going on!"

  Lychee pushed open the door, and a gust of cold wind swept in, bringing snowflakes that hit her face, making her shiver violently. She turned back to Lin Jingrong and said: "The wind is cold and the snow is heavy, miss, stay inside and don't go out. I'll go with Guiyuan to take a look and come back."

  Osmanthus saw the big wind and cold snow, and didn't want to go. She glanced at Miao Yu with her eyes, and Miao Yu stood up quickly, clapped her hands and said: "Sister Osmanthus can stay in the house with the girl, I'll go with Lychee." After speaking, she rushed out, soon took an oil-paper umbrella and a conical hat from the wall by the door, and put them on together with Lychee. The two held hands, giggling and laughing, opened the courtyard gate and went out.

  Longyan saw that they were good, and she was uncomfortable again. She pouted her mouth to close the door, but Lin Jianrong hurriedly stopped her: "Don't be in a hurry, I'll listen."

  There were footsteps rushing into the Tao family's courtyard next door. Mrs. Gong sternly asked, "What's going on?"

  "It's someone from Lin Changye's family."

  Then someone cried out in a crying tone: "Please, Third Madam, save our grandmother. She's not familiar with this place and doesn't have any relatives from her mother's side..." Lin Jinrong quickly got up and stood by the door, listening carefully. The voice on the other side was getting lower and lower, she couldn't quite make out what it was saying, but she could roughly guess that something had gone wrong with Chang Dajie's childbirth. According to the conversation between Chang Dajie and Tao Shi that day, the midwife had been arranged for a long time, and now they must have come to ask for Master Shui.

  As expected, Lizi and Miao Diaoping rushed in, panting with wind and snow: "It's Chang Dainai who is having a difficult labor, we need to ask Shuilaoren to help... Shuilaoren has already gone ahead, the mistress also wants to go take a look."

  The two families were not familiar with each other, and Tao's family had only met Chang Dainai twice. Although they had exchanged a few pleasantries through their servants, as fellow villagers and women, Tao's family knew the hardships and dangers of childbirth and pitied Chang Dainai for being alone in a foreign land, away from her natal home, and were willing to lend a helping hand.

  Lin Jinrong looked out the window at the heavy snowfall with a worried expression. On a day like today, Tao Shi had to go out and work hard. If she wasn't careful and caught a chill, wouldn't all her efforts to recuperate over the past few days be for nothing? She couldn't let that happen. So she quickly ordered someone to bring her boots and cloak, put them on, and rushed out of the house in a hurry. Just as she was about to catch up with Tao Shi, who was wrapped up warmly and surrounded by people like Gong Mama, they were just walking out.

  Lin Jinyong hastily stepped forward and tightly grasped Mrs. Tao's arm: "Mother, I'll go with you."

  This isn't as simple as her pestering him to buy land to practice his footwork, Tao's expression turned cold and stern, he waved his sleeve and scolded: "What nonsense are you spouting? Go back inside and sleep!"

  "Miss, Madam has gone for something important. If you go over there, no one will take care of you, listen to me."

  Lin Jinyong once again grasped Tao's arm and hurriedly followed her, saying: "No, I want to go with you! You're not feeling well, and it's such a big snow, the road isn't close either. Let me accompany you and keep an eye on you, that's when I'll feel at ease. Otherwise, I'm worried. If we go, I'll wait outside for you, I won't bother you, and I definitely won't cause any trouble."

  The four girls were getting more and more out of hand, Tao was somewhat annoyed and also amused. Originally, she had firmly forbidden it, but seeing that Lin Jingrong had already climbed onto the carriage with great self-awareness, trying to pull her down would take a lot of time and effort, and wouldn't look good either. So, she put on a stern face and ignored Lin Jingrong.

  This is tacit consent.

  Lin Jinyong never thought that this step he took to protect his mother would inadvertently open another door for her future.

  The wind and snow were heavy, the road was completely invisible, the driver did not dare to drive too fast, Tao Shi and Lin Jiner leaned against each other, neither of them speaking.

  After a while, Mrs. Tao felt somewhat tired and heard the dogs barking outside. Tiehuai shouted loudly from outside: "Madam, we've arrived." The carriage stopped in front of a not-so-large courtyard gate, and immediately someone came up with an umbrella and a lantern to greet them.

  "Third brother and sister, I'm really sorry to trouble you again. It's such bad weather and yet you've come all this way...” Lin Chang wrapped in a woolen coat, came forward with his hands and neck shrunk, to pay respects to the Tao family. He caught sight of Lin Jianrong standing beside Mrs. Tao and couldn't help but feel slightly startled.

  Tao looked at Lin Jirong and stepped inside: "She's alone at home and is a bit scared, so it's troublesome for Third Uncle to find a warmer place for her and the maid. I brought an old ginseng here, I'm afraid it will be useful, where is she?"

  "Thank you, please come this way." Lin Changqian thanked him profusely and followed Tao's family into the backyard. He pointed to a young woman standing under the eaves: "Take your fourth sister to your room to warm up by the fire. Take good care of her."

  "I am your sister-in-law." The young woman hastily came forward and greeted Lin Jinrong: "Fourth sister, please follow me."

  Lin Jinrong was slightly stunned, she had thought that since her mother-in-law was having a difficult childbirth, the daughter-in-laws should be attending to her nearby. The ones waiting on guests in the corridor should have been servant women and the like, but unexpectedly it turned out to be Lin Chang's eldest daughter-in-law, Ma Shi.

  Ma was slender and tall, with a slightly pale complexion, a long face, a somewhat large mouth, and high cheekbones, looking extremely intelligent and capable. Lin Jirong heard her accent similar to that of a local person, unlike Lin Chang and Chang Dainai who spoke with a foreign accent, so he said: "Sister, are you a local?"

  Ma nodded and said: "My mother's family is in Zuojiao Village, fifty miles away from here."

  Lin Jinyong felt increasingly uneasy as she went deeper inside. Lin Chang's house was not particularly large, but as she walked further in, she didn't hear any cries of pain from the woman, everything was quiet to the point of being eerie.

  In Ma's house, a young man in his early twenties sat with a high nose and thin eyes, somewhat resembling Lin Chang. He was holding a one-year-old chubby baby boy and teasing him with a smile. When Ma came in, he gave her a glance: "This is the fourth sister of San Shu's family."

  The young man hastily put the doll on the small bed, stood up and bowed to Lin Jirong, said a few words of courtesy, and went out.

  "My home is too cramped, I'm afraid you can't even put your feet down, it's laughable." Mrs. Ma brought over a stool for Lin to sit on, then turned around and took a small quilt from the bed, wrapped up the little girl, and loudly called out: "Little bundle, little bundle, come give someone a hug!"

  "Here, here." Along with this shout, the little girl who had followed Chang Danni to visit that day, and was busy eating fruit with her head down, rushed in and collided with Lin Yiran, not even greeting him, and hastily ran over to take the baby and retreated.

  Lin Jiran knew this was to make room for himself, felt uneasy and hurriedly said: "No need to bother, I quite like children, it's not good to hold him out warmly."

  "No trouble, the neighbor is also warm." Mrs. Ma pushed the charcoal basin towards Lin Jirong and Lychee, smiling: "Fourth sister rarely comes once, according to reason should be treated well. It's just that I happened to encounter this matter, really can't do anything about it. You warm up, I'll go brew tea for you."

  Lin Jinyong felt uneasy in his heart and hastily said: "No need, sister-in-law, you're busy with your own affairs, don't bother about me."

  Ma's voice was firm as she drew open the curtain and went out: "I want it."

  Lin Jinyong and Lychee finally had a chance to take in their surroundings.

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